Congratulations to Meleri Pryse and Steven Bailey from Ikkyo Aberystwyth Karate Club! Both students were selected to represent Wales in the European Championships, which took place in Portugal. They travelled with their Chief Instructor, Welsh Squad Kata Coach Paul James on Thursday 21st of November to spend a day training before the competition started on Friday 22nd of November. Competition was fierce on the first day, with Meleri Pryse winning round after round before finally winning a hard-fought place in the final. She performed a near-perfect rendition of Gankaku, eventually taking home the silver. She was also a member of the Ladies Team Kumite (fighting) event, who all fought well, winning a place in the finals. They were eventually beaten by the host country’s team, despite a very strong showing, and won the bronze medal.
On the second day, fighting spirits were even higher, and it was the turn of Steven Bailey. He won a number of rounds in the Junior Male Kata event, before facing the current Junior World Champion Sam Biranvand from Sweden during the final round on his area. Winning this round would have taken him to the Semi Finals. Unfortunately, Steven’s competitor was on form again, beating everyone in the competition and regaining his European title for a second consecutive year.
Competitors are permitted to enter the category above as well as their own. Meleri, despite being a cadet, bravely entered the Junior Female Kata event and gave an incredible performance, eventually placing 6th overall in the competition narrowly missing out on the finals by just 0.3 points.
Steven also entered the senior category, performing well in the Senior Male Kata event, unfortunately meeting the current senior World Champion Hisham Saif in the second round. A string of unlucky draws for Steven but some great performances none the less and at his rate of improvement he’ll be closing in on his rivals very soon.
Both students train incredibly hard as we’re sure you already know, and their accomplishments just show how dedication and hard training pay off.
Click through to watch the videos:
DSCF0643 cadet kata Meleri
http://youtu.be/m21MTwqo2Ms
DSCF0644 cadet kata Hannah
http://youtu.be/SqNj1Wx02SI
DSCF0645 cadet kata Meleri
http://youtu.be/WYq8PJOn99s
DSCF0646 cadet kata Meleri
http://youtu.be/OYVZfeHvtt0
DSCF0647 cadet team kumite Hannah
http://youtu.be/t1R7s_g–gw
DSCF0648 cadet team kumite Kirsty
http://youtu.be/FK6XfYtRuQA
DSCF0649 cadet team kumite Kirsty
http://youtu.be/vwhz_uGCap0
DSCF0650 cadet team kumite Kirsty
http://youtu.be/GuM7EyH_JeA
DSCF0651 cadet team kumite Meleri
http://youtu.be/MVofxi2OeRw
DSCF0652 cadet kata final Meleri
http://youtu.be/e9HKEcNe1-k
DSCF0653 cadet Kata final Germany
http://youtu.be/W2EDlDk0cyM
DSCF0710 junior kata Lauren
http://youtu.be/SDKKcdlUIqQ
DSCF0711 junior kata Meleri
http://youtu.be/uSq_SQm5-6A
DSCF0712 junior kata Steve
http://youtu.be/5PAaCac-6A8
DSCF0713 junior kata Stefan
http://youtu.be/89KdEDxC0QY
DSCF0714 junior kata Steve
http://youtu.be/aXbk2wIHbt8
DSCF0715 junior kata Lloyd
http://youtu.be/5ZHIcGgrYMo
DSCF0716 junior kata Lloyd
http://youtu.be/olPw4Yq6dRM
DSCF0717 junior kata Lloyd
http://youtu.be/jxo9Wl6Rtp4
DSCF0718 junior kata Meleri
http://youtu.be/eKbeIwi52gc
DSCF0719 junior kata Lloyd
http://youtu.be/vhLDQapEq9s
DSCF0720 junior kata Germany
http://youtu.be/eo44nj1hO30
DSCF0721 junior kata Portugal
http://youtu.be/OYrcFMujx-U
DSCF0722 junior kata Sweden
http://youtu.be/atC2g7cQ1NY
DSCF0743 senior kata Lucy
http://youtu.be/1dYsVwSDmqM
DSCF0744 senior kata Lauren
http://youtu.be/2qkeR5Z5Oe8
DSCF0745 senior kata Kirstie
http://youtu.be/3nDHzTyY_pw
DSCF0746 senior kata Sefan
http://youtu.be/o1MudnrdU-8
DSCF0747 senior kata Mark
http://youtu.be/w4npIoDf730
DSCF0748 senior kata Lloyd
http://youtu.be/1IiWsdjqEuk
DSCF0749 senior kata Mark
http://youtu.be/Gb62AP3hrIQ
DSCF0750 senior kata Lloyd
http://youtu.be/SSvPSzogzis
DSCF0751 senior kata Lloyd
http://youtu.be/mveobsi7Yck
DSCF0752 senior kata semi finals 1
http://youtu.be/Fqu6PGClTMk
DSCF0753 senior kata semi finals 2
http://youtu.be/C6ALw6WHCY4
DSCF0755 senior kata semi finals 3
http://youtu.be/zn25maxwZBY
DSCF0757 senior kata semi finals 4
http://youtu.be/f9AzS9r4jWw
DSCF0759 senior kata semi finals 5
http://youtu.be/0oMD91PwiKA
DSCF0761 senior kata semi finals 6
http://youtu.be/OX81Odo9I3w
DSCF0763 senior kata semi finals 7
http://youtu.be/NUME-uinCxM
DSCF0765 senior kata semi finals 8
http://youtu.be/lp9tKblP0L4
DSCF0767 senior ladies kumite Lucy
http://youtu.be/G9FdJrj4eOI
DSCF0768 senior ladies kumite Kirstie
http://youtu.be/IgZioitdxGA
DSCF0769 senior ladies kumite Lauren
http://youtu.be/PIdvYG056a8
DSCF0770 senior mens kumite Jordan
http://youtu.be/7NYojn6U39w
DSCF0771 senior mens kumite Pip
http://youtu.be/HHgCaMFLEpY
DSCF0772 senior mens kumite Ross
http://youtu.be/aiXxn9U7jFk
DSCF0773 senior mens kumite Calum
http://youtu.be/VH8rqlKpKTI
DSCF0774 senior mens kumite Matt
http://youtu.be/nx0F2hPuqko
DSCF0775 senior kata final
http://youtu.be/Sdm8XhJW0RA
DSCF0776 senior kata final
http://youtu.be/rLAYimlAtUU
DSCF0777 senior kata final
http://youtu.be/YBg8L8pJoeM
DSCF0778 senior kata final
http://youtu.be/DPSgNswo2go
DSCF0779 senior kata final
http://youtu.be/spQNb2BMd_E